On Oct. 29, the Presidential Office announced that former vice president Lien Chan (連戰) would attend the 2008 APEC leaders summit on behalf of President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九).
Lien will be the highest-ranking former Taiwanese official to attend the summit, and Ma’s government is pleased with the status of its envoy.
But the government seems unaware that the appointment of Lien could strengthen the belief the public has that Ma is ignorant of the seriousness of the global economic crisis, while also giving the international community the misconception that Taiwan endorses China’s “Anti-Secession” Law.
This financial crisis, which is the largest in a century, has greatly affected the world economy. Asia-Pacific countries that mainly rely on exports to the US and European markets are now facing outflow of foreign capital and declining exports, and that is in addition to the current crisis.
CHALLENGE
The challenge that these nations are facing, therefore, is much greater than that of the US and Europe, which are currently going through financial and monetary tightening.
Naturally, the APEC summit will focus on how to coordinate the economic strategies of the member states in order to overcome the international crisis.
So, surprisingly, the Ma government is sending Lien, who knows little about economics and who is controversial politically, to represent Taiwan.
In doing so, the government has entirely overlooked the strategic opportunity for this country to engage in economic talks involving a number of nations.
The decision also shows that Ma only cares about pushing forward his own “one China” policy.
IMPRESSION
As Ma’s government strives to improve cross-strait relations, the appointment of Lien, who endorses China’s Anti-Secession Law, could create an impression in the international community that the government endorses the law.
Little wonder, then, that Beijing rejected former Control Yuan president Fredrick Chien (錢復) as Taipei’s envoy, while giving Lien a big, warm welcome.
The reason for this is simple: The summit is one of the few international conferences that Taiwan is allowed to attend for its full duration.
By appointing a supporter of the Anti-Secession Law as Taiwan’s delegate, Ma will be able to instruct Lien to dance to China’s tune at the event.
At this event, one that is crucial to Taiwan’s sovereignty, Ma will be able to speak through Lien and directly act to deny Taiwan’s sovereignty, while also hushing the voices of other democratic nations that support Taiwan, such as the US and Japan.
GROUNDS
With Ma sending a supporter of the Anti-Secession Law to represent Taiwan in the international community, what grounds will other nations have to oppose the law?
If Ma is truly opposed to that law, as he has repeatedly claimed, he should have realized that sending a supporter of it could not only damage Taiwan’s sovereignty, but also hasten the “denationalization” of the country.
Ma’s government seems unaware of this issue, instead expressing pleasure at the high-ranking status of its envoy.
I fear, therefore, that the prediction now circulating that Taiwan will perish as a country within four years is not groundless.
Lai I-chung is an assistant professor at Mackay Medicine, Nursing and Management College.
TRANSLATED BY EDDY CHANG
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